Viewers will see the 22-year-old's paraplegic character Jackson Walsh ask his boyfriend Aaron (Danny Miller) and mother Hazel (Pauline Quirke) to help him end his life in an upcoming plot.

Speaking to the Boston Herald, Silcock revealed that his final scene as Jackson will be filmed on May 14th and air on ITV1 sometime the following month.

He also urged fans to make the most of the short-lived optimism displayed by Aaron and Jackson as they attempt to adapt to his character's life-changing injuries, which were sustained in last October's dramatic train crash.

"There is a large time where [Jackson and Aaron] are happy together because we decide to go, 'Okay, we'll give it a go. We'll see what kind of life we can have'," he said. "That's something people can look forward to. There's going to be lots of laughs, lots of jokes... We are going to see a bright light of shining happiness - for a while.

"When that comes to an end, we'll start discussing the issues that people will understand a bit more and appreciate a bit more."

Pressed for his own views on assisted suicide, Silcock argued: "Why shouldn't you have that choice? If you've had an accident, why should you be kept in a prison cell for a crime you haven't committed? You should have the choice.

"You're trapped in a body for something you didn't do. There shouldn't be such an uproar around it. It shouldn't be such a taboo subject."

He added: "We believe what we're going to be talking about is something that needs to be talked about and hasn't been talked about in British TV, let alone a soap, and that's really important for me, to really think that a really unappreciated subject will be brought to the forefront."

Although he refused to confirm whether Jackson will have his wish to die granted by Aaron and Hazel, Silcock promised: "I think it's going to be an exit people will remember."